Pastors and ministry leaders are struggling like never before. Today, five ways you can encourage them.
Arkansas pastor Brandon Cox came up with these suggestions after reading that 1 in 5 pastors were considering leaving the ministry.
First, call a fellow leader on the phone and mentor them.
Ask them a ton of questions about how things are going in their soul, their family, and their realm of leadership. Then offer encouragement and perhaps a little bit of advice. And pray with them and over them.
Second, Connect a fellow leader into a valuable relationship.
It’s a way of putting people together when they need to learn from one another.
Next, Send a book.
Here are a couple of his suggestions….
- Rich Villodas’ The Deeply Formed Life. Rich reminds us that what keeps us steady isn’t our performance but our prayer life.
- Bill Hull’s The Disciple-Making Pastor. Bill’s book is a classic on gathering friends the way Jesus did and helping them grow up spiritually.
Fourth. Ask a leader for help.
Pastors are notoriously unwilling to ask for help from others, but asking a pastor to help you with something as simple as a word of advice opens the door to helping each other mutually.
And finally, produce something for others.
That work could be a blog, a book or taking a speaking engagement somewhere.
Jesus wants to involve YOU in his work of restoring, renewing, and refreshing those around you.